WSJ: Alcee Hastings use of travel stipend questioned

From the Wall Street Journal: "Congressional investigators are questioning a half-dozen lawmakers
for possibly misspending government funds meant to pay for overseas
travel, according to people familiar with the matter.

"The investigation follows a Wall Street Journal article in March
that said lawmakers had used daily cash stipends, meant to cover
certain costs of official government travel overseas, to cover expenses
that appeared to be unauthorized by House rules. An independent ethics
board has referred the matter to the House ethics committee.

"Congressional
rules say the daily travel funds, called a per diem, must be spent on
meals, cabs and other travel expenses. But when lawmakers travel, many
of their meals and expenses are picked up by other people, such as
foreign government officials or U.S. ambassadors.

"That can leave
lawmakers with leftover money. Lawmakers routinely keep the extra funds
or spend it on gifts, shopping or to cover their spouses' travel
expenses, according to dozens of current and former lawmakers...

"There
is no system for lawmakers to return excess travel funds when they
return to the U.S. and investigators may conclude that House rules for
the use of per diem are unclear. One lawmaker, Sen. Richard Durbin (D.,
Ill.), said that he mails a personal check to the U.S. Treasury after
each trip. Congress doesn't keep any record of the amount of per diem
that is returned to the government.

"The Journal article in
March quoted several lawmakers saying they didn't return excess travel
funds to the government. Rep. Joe Wilson (R., S.C.) said he once bought
marble goblets in Kabul. Rep. AlceeHastings (D., Fla.) said he paid
for drinks and gifts for people who traveled with him. Rep. G.K.
Butterfield (D., N.C.), who is a member of the House ethics committee,
said he sometimes keeps the extra money. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R.,
Ala.) said he didn't know if he kept extra money because he doesn't
keep receipts.

"According to several lawmakers who have been
contacted by ethics investigators, the probe is examining Messrs.
Wilson, Hastings and Butterfield, as well as Rep. Aderholt and Rep.
Solomon Ortiz (D., Texas). Former Rep. Mark Souder (R., Ind.) was also
contacted by investigators."